Mahakali, Uttarakhand

KUMAON KALEIDOSCOPE

09 Days | Oct – Apr

It is located along the border of India and Nepal. The Mahakali River trip is an exciting river journey along scenic terraced cultivation of the quaint and remote Kumaoni villages, coupled with sparkling water and wonderful sandy beaches. Even the drive is quite adventurous and picturesque which takes us through many important towns of Kumaon. This trip promises a wilderness journey of a lifetime. It is great for beginners to rafting and kayaking, as well as experienced adventurers as it has a few big rapids, like the ‘Chuka’, ‘Dimberghat’ and ‘The Creek’ rapids, to thrill us.

A completely self contained trip, we will run the river with our experienced guides in the day time and bask in the natural beauty of the region in the late afternoon and evening. For enthusiastic anglers – catching the Mahseer fish is an absolute delight, as we camp around Pancheshwar which is a popular fishing spot.

Trip Highlights

Drive through the beautiful Kumaon region & get splendid view of the Greater Himalayas.

Raft on a river which forms the international boundaries between India & Nepal.

Journey through scenic, quaint and remote Kumaoni & Nepali villages.

Visit ancient temples on the river, important to people living on both sides of the river.

Camp by the river on splendid river beaches.

Insight into people living in remote villages.

Trip Activities

Drive through Kumaon. Panoramic view of the Greater Indian Himalayas.

Multi-day white-water rafting and camping.

An angler’s delight.

Village walks.

Itinerary

Day 00: Delhi – Kathgodam
We take the overnight train to Kathgodam and reach in the early hours of the morning.

Day 01: Kathgodam – Pithoragarh
An eight hour drive to Pithoragarh gives us the splendid views of the Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli mountain ranges. Drive through the towns and villages of Kumaon which provides a rich cultural background for the trip. Don’t be surprised if we stop often to take photographs of the diverse flora and fauna, and the people of this region along with the Himalayas in the background. Overnight at Pithoragarh hotel.

Day 02: Pithoragarh – Jauljibi – Chaukidari Camp
A two and a half hour drive from Pithoragarh brings us to the confluence of Gori Ganga and Kali rivers at Jauljibi, the starting point of the expedition. After a comprehensive talk on river safety as well as basic instructions, we are ready to experience the thrill of grade 3 rapids. The sights and sounds of the many villages we cross add to the special experience of being on the river. We pitch camp late afternoon, followed by dinner around the campfire after an amazing day on the river. Overnight at camp.

Day 03: Chaukidari Camp – Waterfall camp
The second day on the Kali begins with a grade 2 rapid. Enjoy the white water as we raft or kayak through the ‘Squeeze’ at Juhlaghat. The river banks sport stalactite and stalagmite formations, reminding us of what we learnt in school. In the afternoon, we pitch camp by a waterfall and we can choose to hike up to it or laze around the campfire, eat dinner and hit the sleeping bag. Camp overnight.

Day 04: Waterfall Camp- Nidal Camp
Get ready for some more action on the grade 2-3 rapids to reach Pancheshwar, the confluence of Kali and Saryu. This is a great spot for fishing. Camp overnight.

Day 05: Nidal Camp- Sonaligaon Camp
Expect loads of thrills today as we move from Pancheshwar towards Sonali Gaon and encounter grade 3 rapids as the river picks up volume. The verdant untouched beauty around is breathtaking and has us all wishing for the day not to end. Camp overnight.

Day 06: Sonali gaon Camp – Parigaon Camp
The river run from Sonali Gaon to Pari Gaon takes us through Kali’s biggest rapid, the ‘Chuka’, a grade 4+ rapid. As the rapid has several channels we will scout around before running it. A few more grade 3 rapids before we reach camp across the river from Pari Gaon. There will be plenty to discuss and remember about the day when we sit around the camp fire tucking into a hot, delicious meal. Camp overnight.

Day 07: Pari gaon – Boom – Kathgodam
The last day on the river we start from Pari Gaon to reach out at Boom. There is a distinct shift in the vegetation around as we enter the Terai region and we may find wild elephants sharing the river with us! After lunch and load up we drive to Kathgodam to board the night train Ranikhet Express for Delhi.

Day 08: Delhi This is the end of the journey folks; we’re back to Delhi, bright and early.